I sat alone and watched;
My lot in life, to live alone
In my own world of interests,
Much felt but little shown.

Yet sometimes, when I feel my strength
Most weak, and life most burdensome,
I lift mine eyes up to the hills,
From whence my help shall come.
--CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

Malcolm sat for some time talking to the two ladies; then he made
an excuse and set off in search of Leah. He was well acquainted with
the grounds of Sandy Hollow, and could have found his way blindfolded
to the lower garden.

It was a quaint old plaisance shut in with high walls, which were
covered with fruit trees, where downy peaches, and nectarines, and
golden apricots, and big yellow plums nestled their sun-kissed cheeks
against the warm red bricks. In the oddly-shaped beds all manner of
sweet growing things seemed to jostle each other--not forming stately
rows, or ordered phalanx, or even gay-patterned borders after the
fashion of modern flower-beds, but growing together in the loveliest
confusion--peonies and nasturtiums, sweet-peas and salvias; and
everywhere crowds of roses--over arches, climbing up walls, hanging in
festoons over the gateway, long rows of Standards guarding the path
like an army of beauteous Amazons; while all day long the heavy brown
bees hummed round them, and filled their honey-bags with rifled sweets.

There was a small green bench placed invitingly in a shady corner,
where Leah had seated herself to rest after her labours. Malcolm
thought that her figure gave the finishing touch to the picture. She
wore a white dress and a large shady hat, and a basket of Marshal Niel
roses was in her lap; but when she caught sight of the visitor she rose
so hastily that the basket was upset and the roses strewed the ground
at her feet. Malcolm felt concerned when he saw how pale she had grown,
and how she was trembling from head to foot, but he thought it better
to take no notice and to give her time to recover herself.

"Have I startled you?" he said lightly. "Let me pick up your roses for
you. May I have this bud for myself?" showing her his spoil. Then, when
the basket was full again, he sat down beside her; but it was Leah who
broke the silence. She had not regained her colour, and her voice still
trembled a little.

"I did not know you were in the neighbourhood," she faltered, "and it
startled me so to see you at the gate. I have not been strong since